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FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2012<br />
By Ben Garcia<br />
<strong>Kuwait</strong>’s public parks, normally<br />
used for jogging, contemplating,<br />
playing and other forms of entertainment<br />
and recreational activities, are<br />
now slowly being renewed and upgraded.<br />
Many of them have built sections<br />
dedicated for children’s playgrounds.<br />
The usually secluded or fenced-in public<br />
parks are now open, without fences or<br />
barriers. Further, improvements are<br />
ongoing and are estimated to be completed<br />
within a year. In Salmiya Park, for<br />
example, there is a new children’s corner,<br />
albeit with one problem - lighting.<br />
“It could only be used in the early morning<br />
hours since there are no lights<br />
installed for our children to see and play<br />
safely at night,” an Indian mother told<br />
<strong>Kuwait</strong> <strong>Times</strong>. “You know the weather in<br />
the afternoon in <strong>Kuwait</strong>; its unbearable,<br />
so the best time for children to play is<br />
the evening. But how can they enjoy the<br />
play area if they can barely see it?” she<br />
added.<br />
Another complaint she had were the<br />
closed and filthy washrooms. “I don’t<br />
know why they leave the park without<br />
toilets - it is a necessity and they have to<br />
provide it for users. Even the smallest<br />
establishment anywhere in the world<br />
has to have washrooms. Why don’t we?”<br />
she asked.<br />
Water fountains are also installed in<br />
some public parks, as well as basketball<br />
and football courts, walking or jogging<br />
paths, and even picnic areas.<br />
Public parks in <strong>Kuwait</strong> are maintained<br />
by the municipality, supplying them<br />
with water and making sure that sur-<br />
roundings are clean and, if possible,<br />
green. There are also mini-parks in various<br />
locations and districts in <strong>Kuwait</strong>,<br />
although some of them are mere playgrounds<br />
for children, attached to known<br />
establishments. In Soukh Mubarakiya,<br />
Local<br />
Parks get kid-friendly<br />
<strong>Kuwait</strong>’s public parks undergoing<br />
facelifts, new children’s playgrounds open<br />
for example, a newly renovated playground<br />
is now being used by many children<br />
from various locations. It is<br />
equipped with new amenities children<br />
can enjoy, including slides, swings, seesaws<br />
and even water fountains.<br />
— Photos by Ben Garcia
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